Printing mechanism



June 7, 1938. M. J. HOFFMAN PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 5, 1936 3Sheets-Sheet 1 J u mi N @m nm mw June 7, 1938. M. J, HOFFMAN PRINTINGMECHANISM Filed Dec. 5, 1936 June 7, 1938. M. J. HOFFMAN PRINTINGMECHANISM Filed DeC. 5, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 7, 1938UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to printing mechanism and in its present form ithas been designed to print data of various kinds on coupon tickets, suchas are used for keeping record of workmens time on wearing apparel orother articles off,... manufacture. f "d Ordinarily coupon ticketscomprise two spaced rows of coupons which are detachable from theremainder of the ticket, and each coupon bears data concerning the Workdone by the workmen upon the goods. Sometimes the data consists of thelot orl job number, the price paid to the several workmen for laborperformed upon the articles and the names of the particular operationsperformed.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide mechanism, bymeans of which all of the data may be printed upon a coupon ticket inone operation. Sometimes one and the same identification number isprinted upon each of the coupons of the ticket, and other dissimilardata is printed upon the coupons, and one of the objects of the presentinvention is to provide means whereby all of the printing elements whichprint the numbers may be set up by a simple operation, and the remainderof the data may be set up or applied to a slide which may be placed in aslightly higher plane than the other type faces, together with means formaking an impression of all of the type faces in one operation.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, this inventionconsists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth andclaimed.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a plan of the printing mechanism with certain portions brokenaway and other parts omitted for the purpose of clarity;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section, taken on'the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental, vertical, longitudinal section, taken on theline 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental, perspective view of certain liners used forsupporting and guiding the type bars, the guide member and the slideused;

Fig. 5 is a plan of one of the type strips used on the slide, seen inFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmental plan of one of the printed coupon tickets and anadjacent unprinted one; and

Fig. '7 is a plan of one of the type bars used in the device.

Referring to said drawings, the reference character I designates ahollow rectangular base, in

which the type mechanism is contained, and Il designates a cover whichis hinged to the base by hinges I2 and is arranged to'be locked orotherwise secured thereto by pins or other locking means I3.

Within and extending transversely of the base, are a multiplicity ofspaced liners I4, which are spaced apart by washers I5 (see Fig. 2) andtied together by rods I1 extending through the liners and washers andhaving nuts I6 threaded upon 10 their outer ends for clamping the partstogether. The liners are supported by cross bars I8 which are fastenedupon the ends of the liners by rods I9 having nuts upon their ends thatbear against the bars, and the entire structure described is l5 rigidlyfastened in the base. The liners I4 .are arranged in groups, and theliners I4, which divide the liners I4 into groups, have upwardextensions I4b, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained.

Slidably resting upon the liners I4 are type bars 20, which have spacedduplicate sets of type faces 2l upon their upper edges adjacent theirends, as seen in Fig. 7, said type faces desirably comprising the digits0 and 1 to 9 and other characters, 25 if desired. When the type bars arein neutral position, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, all of the correspondingtype faces on the type bars are aligned with other, but the type barsmay be adjusted from said neutral position to a printing position, inwhich the type faces that are in printing posi-V ton co-operate withimpression making means to print the members or characters set up.

It is to be understood that when the type bars are set into printingposition, two rows of type faces are set into printing position to printupon two rows of spaced coupons. The printing posi- Vtion of the typefaces, namely, the lines in which the type faces print, is indicated bythe arrows, a, in Figs. 1 and 2. Six type bars are shown in 40 eachgroup so that each group is capable of printing a selected numbercomposed of six digits on two spaced rows of coupons.

Suitable means are provided for simultaneously setting up thecorresponding type bars of the several groups into printing position andthe means here shown comprise shafts 22, one for each type bar of agroup, said shafts being rotatively mounted in the base and liners andhaving pinions 23 rigidly mounted thereon and ar- 50 ranged to mesh withrack teeth 24 provided upon the lower edges of the type bars. Theseveral pinions on each shaft mesh with the several correspondinglylocated type 'bars of all of the groups. Upon the outer ends of theshafts 22 u are knobs 24, by means of which the shafts may bemanipulated to set the type bars into printing position. For indicatingthe type faces at the printing position, a group of indicating bars 25,similar to the type bars, are provided at one end of the machine andsaid indicating bars mesh with pinions upon the shafts 22 in the samemanner as the type bars 20. The upper edges of the indicating bars 25are provided with indicating characters corresponding with those on thetype bars, and said indicating characters are visible through a window26 in the cover Il when the bars are adjusted.

By observing the type characters as they appear through the window, theattendant turns the various shafts 22 until the proper charactersappear. The type bar setting mechanism above described exemplifies oneform of setting mechanism, 'but it is to be understood that variousequivalent means may be provided for setting the printing bars intoprinting position. A fuller description-of type bars and settingmechanism therefor is more fully shown and described in Letters PatentNo. 1,371,893, issued to meMarch 15, 1921.

Two rows of figures, b, are printed with the type bars upon the two rowsof coupons, c, of a. coupon ticket C, a fragment of which is seen YinFig. 6. The coupons are separated from the middle portion, c1, of theticket and, if desired,

the ticket may be scored or perforated along the adjoining margins ofthe coupons whereby they may be readily torn from the remainder of theticket. "However, this is not essential to the invention as the scorelines or perforations may be omitted if so desired and the coupons maybe clipped from the ticket.

For printingother data upon the several coupons, such as the prices paidthe workmen for performing work on wearing apparel or other articlesrepresented by the coupon ticket, and for printing data such as thenames of the several operations on the articles, auxiliary printingmeans is provided, which is disposed directly above the type bars inposition to print upon the coupon ticket during the operation ofprinting the rows of figures, b, thereon, said auxiliary printing meanswill now be described.

Extending longitudinally of the base and secured to and supported by theraised portions I4b of the liners I4, is a fiat guide member 2l providedwith inturned side flanges 28 which provide oppositely disposed groovesfor guiding a type carrying slide 29. An upturned flange 21a at the endof the guide member provides a stop for the slide to position the samein a device. The bottom of the guide member 21 is placed immediatelyabove the type faces on the type bars, whereby the bars may slide freelyunderneath the guide member in adjusting the type bars into printingposition.

The slide 29 is provided with means for removably supporting a number oftype strips 30,

that are provided with type faces 3iV at both ends, adapted to print inspaced rows upon thecoupons adjacent the ends thereof which are attachedto the middle portion, c1, of the'ticket.

Conveniently, the slide 29 is provided with trans-- versely extendinginturned lips 32, 33 that provide grooves in which the strips may beinserted in attaching them to the slide. 'I'he lips 32, 33 are disposedabove and in line with the liners i4a which support the guide member 21,whereby the type strips may be located directly above the groups of typebars, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3.

I have shown one type strip 30 for each group of type bars, adapted toprint data in connection with the numbers printed by the type bars. Ifdesired, the type strips may be in the form of two pieces, one disposedadjacent each side edge of the slide. 'I'he type faces 3i are formedupon the type strip in any well known manner, and desirably two rows oftype faces are provided adjacent each end of each type strip, whereby toprint two kinds of data upon each coupon, as for instance, the pricespaid the several. workmen for performing the operations upon the articlewhich prices are indicated at d, in 6, and the names of the operationsperformed by the workmen on the article as seen at e.

A large assortment of type strips is furnished with each printingdevice, as this enables the user of the machine to print a great numberof combinations of prices and names of operations along with the numbersthat are printed on the coupons. The prices for the several operationsmay vary in accordance with the character or quality of the articleswith which the coupon tickets are used, and with the use of removableand interchangeable type strips any desired combination may be obtained.Furthermore, several slides may accompany the device, and the usualcombinations of prices and operations may be set up in the severalslides thereof, and when it becomes necessary to change some particularprice or prices for a certain order all that is necessary for theattendant to do is to select type strips for printing the proper dataand insert them in place ofthe others. f

An inked ribbon 34 overlies the type bars and auxiliary printing meansand may be wound upon spools 35 supported by the cover il on theunderside at the front and yback thereof.

As a preference a roll 36, composed of a wide strip of light cardboardor heavy paper, is used for making the tickets, and the cardboard orpaper may be scored transversely as at c2 in Fig. 6 to separate thetickets C from each other. The roll is carried by brackets 3T mounted onthe rear of the base and the end of the ticket strip 36EL thereof is fedthrough a slot at the rear of the base and over the inked ribbon to thefront of the machine, where its extreme end protrudes through a slot 38in the cover in position to be taken hold of and drawn out of thedevice.

Any suitable impression making means may be provided in connection withthe type bars and auxiliary printing means and, as seen, saidirnpression making means is contained in a housing 39 which rises fromthe plate 40 of the cover Ii.

Two narrow impression rollers 4| co-operate with the type faces 2l,which are in printing position, to make impressions on the coupons, andan irnpression roller 42, located between the rollers 4l,`is providedfor making impressions from the type faces 3i on the auxiliary printingmeans. The rollers are journaled in brackets carried by a slidableroller supporting member 43 which is slidably guided in the side walls44 of the housing, and has a knob 45 extending through a slot in the topwall of the housing that provides means for moving the roller supportingmember 43 and therewith the rollers across the coupon ticket to make theimpressions thereon.

Desirably the impression roller 42 is yieldably supported in itsbrackets and for this purpose springs 46 are provided in the bracketswhich bear against the bearings for the roller and permit the roller toyield upwardly when traveling over the auxiliary printing means.

Whenv a roll of cardboard or paper is used, the tickets are detachedafter being printed,-and

' in posts 41 adjacent the side edges of the plate 40 and said bar isurged upwardly by coiled compression springs 48 contained in the postsand bearing against the underside of the bar. A knob 49 may be employedon the bar to facilitate pressing it down on the ticket strip. It is tobe understood that the printed ticket is withdrawn far enough to bringthe row of perforations between it and the next adjacent ticket beneaththe strip tearing bar, the bar pressed down on the ticket strip and theprinted ticket torn off aiong the edge of the strip tearing bar.

For guiding the ticket strip over the type bars and auxiliary printingmeans, rods 50 (see Fig. 2) may be provided above and below the ticketstrip, between the middle and end rollers.

In use the end of the ticket strip is threaded through the device abovethe inked ribbon to the strip tearing bar. The slide, with the selectedtype strips attached thereto, is inserted in the guide member, therebybringing the several type strips over the groups of type bars. The typebars are then adjusted to bring the selected type characters intoprinting position to print the selected number on the coupons. Theimpression making device is then moved across the ticket underneath it.The rollers lll press the ticket against the ribbon over the type facesof the type bars that are in printing position and the roller 42 pressesthe ticket upon the ribbon over the type faces on the slide, therebyprinting all of the data on the ticket in one operation. After theticket has been printed, it is withdrawn and torn from the remainder ofthe ticket strip, as has been explained.

With the present printing mechanism, the ticket strip need have no datapreviously printed on it, which is a great saving in the cost of thestrip and, inasmuch as all of the data on a ticket may be printed in oneoperation, time and labor are saved and there is less likelihood formistakes.

More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possiblewithout departing from the spirit of this invention. I desire,therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the constructionshown and described, but intend, in the followingclaiins, to point outall of the invention disclosed herein.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. In printing mechanism, the combination of a base, type bars arrangedside by side in groups and slldably mounted in the base, means toactuate said type bars whereby to set selected ones in printingposition, auxiliary printing means comprising a guide member supportedabove the type bars in close proximity thereto, and a slide having typefaces thereon and slidably held on said guide member, and impressionmaking means co-operating with said type bars and auxiliary printingmeans to make impressions thereof.

2. In printing mechanism, the combination of a base, type bars arrangedside by side in groups,

type -bars having type facesthereon, induplicate,

thereto, a slide removably supported by said guide member in a planeslightly above the planeof the type faces on the type bars, type faceson said slide, and impression making means co-operating with the typefaces that are in printing position to make impressions thereof. Y

3. Printing mechanism, comprising in combination, a base, type barsarranged side by side in groups and slldably mounted in said base, said`type bars having type faces thereon adjacent each end, setting meanswhereby to set selected type faces in two spaced rows, and whereby toprint on two rows of spaced coupon tickets, auxiliary printing meansdisposed slightly above the type bars and located between the printingposition of the type bars, said auxiliary printing means havinginterchangeable type faces located thereon adjacent the printingposition of the type bars, whereby to print data on said coupons, andimpression making means co-operating with the type faces to makeimpressions thereof. y

4. Printing mechanism, comprising in combination, a base, type barsarranged side by side in groups and slidably mounted in said base, saidtype bars having type faces thereon adjacent each end, setting meanswhereby to set selected type faces in two spaced rows, and whereby toprint on two rows of spaced coupon tickets, auxiliary printing meansdisposed slightly above the type bars and located between the printingposition of the type bars, said auxiliary printing means having aremovable slide and interchangeable type strips removably carriedthereby, the type strips having type faces located adjacent the typefaces of the type bars that are in printing position, whereby to printdata on the coupons adjacent the data printed by the type bars, andimpression making means co-operating with the type faces to makeimpressions thereof on two rows of coupons at one operation.

5. In printing mechanism, the combination of settable slidably mountedtype bars, having type faces that print in one plane, auxiliary printingmeans located directly thereabove and having type faces that print in ahigher plane, and impression making means co-operating with type facesof the type bars and auxiliary printing ieans to make impressionsthereof in one opera- 6. In printing mechanism, the combination ofsettable slidably mounted type bars, having type faces that print in oneplane, auxiliary printing means located directly thereabove and havingtype faces that print in a higher plane, and impression making meanshaving rollers co-operating with type faces of the type bars andauxiliary printing means to make impressions thereof in one operation.

7. In printing mechanism, the combination of settable type bars havingtype faces thereon, auxiliary printing means removably supported in aplane above the type bars in close proximity thereto whereby the typebars may move underneath the auxiliary printing means, the latter havingtype faces thereon located slightly above the plane of the type faces onthe type bars, and impression making means cci-operating with the andslidably, mounted in said" base, an of said at both ends of the bars.typesetting means forsetting similar selected type 'faces ofthe severalgroups into printing position intwo spaced lines.. a guidememberextendingv transversely of. the. type bars,- supportedthereabove inclose proximity I 9. In printing mechanism, the combination of gslidably mounted type bars, each having two series of type characters onits upper face, one series at each end, selected type characters of eachseries being capable of printing in two spaced lines, means foradjusting selected type bars to printing position, auxiliary printingmeans having a removable and replaceable printing slide, having twoseries of type characters thereon disposed adjacent .the printingpositions of the type "bars, said slide being located in a plane abovethe type bars but in close proximity thereto,

whereby the type bars may be adjusted underneath the same and impressionmaking means cooperating with the type bars and slide to makeimpressions therefrom in one operation. l0. In printing mechanism, thecombination of settable slidably mounted type bars, having type facesthat print in one plane, removable and replaceable, interchangeableauxiliary printing means located in a plane above the type bars, andimpression making means cooperating with the type bars and auxiliarylprinting means to make impressions thereof in one operation.

11. In printing mechanism, the combination oi settable slidably mountedtype bars, having type faces that print in one plane, auxiliary printingmeans located in a plane above the type bars, and impression makingmeans having rollers cooperating with the type bars and the auxiliaryprinting means to make impressions thereof in one operation.

'12. In printing mechanism, thecombination of printing elements arrangedto print in two planes, and impression making means having rollersdisposed at two xed levels whereby to co-v operate with the printingelements to make impressions therefrom in one operation.

MORRIS J. HOFFMAN.

